Needle threader



Feb. 8, 1955 M. T. DAVID 2,701,669

' NEEDLE Tl-iREADER Filed Oct. 20, 1952 ATTORNEY United States Patent O NEEDLE THREADER Mario T. David, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 20, 1952, Serial No. 315,719

4 Claims. (Cl. 223-99) This invention relates to threaders, and, more particularly, to a device for facilitating the insertion of a fabric thread through the eye of a needle. This invention is an improvement on the needle threader disclosed and claimed in my prior patent, No. 2,609,131, patented September 2, 1952, for Needle Threader.

In my said prior patent, the needle threader therein disclosed and claimed, comprised a pair of articulated jaws, hinged at one end, and spring-biased to a normally open jaw position. A guide member is formed subjacent the forward end of the upper jaw and is received in a conformed recess in the apposed lower jaw. A separate latch construction at the side of the open ends of the jaws permits locking the jaws together. The upper and lower jaw elements are formed of rectangular bar stock, of any suitable material, and these elements are machined, or otherwise worked, to provide recesses for re ceiving the hinge member of the jaws; the compression spring normally biasing the jaws into open position; the hooked wire for pulling the thread through the eye of a needle; the elongated hole for receiving the needle and holding it in apposition to the hooked wire; and a reentrant, transverse, curvilinear slot having a threading hook-receiving recess formed in the bottom thereof, and adapted to guide the threading hook into and through the eye of a needle seated in its hole, the free end of the hook being engaged with a fabric thread drawn taut into and across the bottom of the transverse threadreceiving and guiding slot.

in my said prior patented device, the guide member and the hooked end of the thread hooking wire are exposed when the jaws of the device are open, and a separate latch means is used to lock the jaws in apposed, closed position, when the device is to be used for threading a needle, or when it is not in use. The reason for locking the jaws when the device is not in use is to prevent damage to the otherwise exposed, stub hook end of the threading hook wire.

I have now found that the improved needle threader of my said prior patent can be further improved, both as to fabrication and mode of use, by making the jaw elements of mating parts, desirably of case or injected plastic, formed in suitable molds; by forming a latching lug on the bottom of the guide member, whereby the separate latch means is eliminated; by elongating the thread hooking wire, whereby the threading hook is protected at all times, being sheathed in the hook-receiving recess in the upper jaw, when the jaws are open, and in the bottom of the superjacent transverse thread-receiving slot when the jaws are apposed; by exposing the hook and cooperating needle eye to view by forming the transverse slot at a greater angle to the horizontal, while providing a perpendicularly grooved cut-out in the rear wall of the slot, directly above the threading hook-receiving recess; and by incorporating a needle safe in one of the aws.

It is therefore among the objects'of the present invention to provide an improved needle threader of the character described, and incorporating the improvements recited immediately above, both in their individual forms, as well as in their cooperative assembly.

With these and other important objects and advantages which may be incident to the improvements herein, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising the invention may be varied in construction, proportions and v "ice arrangements, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, there is shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical elfect, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

in the drawings, like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a novel needle threader according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the threader in closed, operative position with the thread apposed to the threading hook;

Fig. 2a is a detail of a threaded needle and the threading hook, showing the drawing of thread through the eye of a needle;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the mounting of a biasing spring in the apposed segments of the upper and lower jaw members, and the incorporation of a needle case in the lower jaw member;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one half of the upper jaw member showing the internal recesses and locking members, and the orientation of the needle-threading hook;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the parts of the lower jaw member normally subjoined to the upper jaw element of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the complementary upper and lower jaw members of the elements of Figs. 4 and 5, the lower jaw being shown in fragmentary detail, and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a modified threading hook.

As noted, a special feature of the novel needle threaders of the present invention is the fact that aside from the coiled wire biasing spring, and the threading hooks, all of the parts can be made of plastic.

Turning now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the novel threader herein will be seen to be comprised of articulated upper and lower jaw members 1, 2, pivotally secured by pivot 3, and normally biased in the open position of Fig. l by compression spring 4. The lower jaw member incorporates a needle safe 5 closed by screw-threaded plug 6. A guide member 7, having a bottom latch hook 7a, (Fig. 6) serves as a detent to hold the jaws in predetermined open position against the bias of spring 4. The upper surface of upper jaw member 1 is transversely serrated, as indicated at 8, to provide a positive grip. The front end of the upper jaw has a needle-receiving depression 9 connected through a passage or hole 10 to the bottom of a transverse, thread-receiving slot 11 formed in the upper surface of member 1. This slot has a rearwardly sloping front wall 12, a forwardly sloping rear wall 13, and a transverse bottom 14, extended later ally, on both sides of member 1, as indicated generally at 15. The upper edge of rear wall 13 is recessed, as shown at 16, to permit the viewing of the threading hook, the needle eye and the thread. A second passage, or recess 18, at right angles to passage 16, and lying in the same vertical plane, is subjoined to the bottom 14, of slot 11, and serves to receive a threading hook 19, having a hook portion 2% and a lower pivot loop 21. The member 19 is usually made of hard drawn brass wire, or the like. A modified hook 22, usually of stamped metal, is shown in Fig. 7, and incorporates a top hook portion 2?) and a laterally forked bottom 24 engageable with pivot pin 25, which normally receives pivot loop 21 of member 19.

In operation, a. needle 26, having an eye 27, is inserted, eye end first, into the needle-receiving passage or hole 10, until the eye of the needle is in register with threading hook recess or passage 18. The jaw members 1 and 2 are then apposed, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the hook 20 of threading book 19 is projected out of recess 18 upwardly into and through the eye 27 of the needle. While held in this position, a thread 253 is drawn down into the bottom 14 transverse slot 11. Owing to the special sloping of the front and rear walls of the transverse thread-receiving slot 11, the thread is directed underneath the hook 20, and is engaged by the latter when the jaws of the threader are released and are springbiased to their normal, open position. The loop of the recess 18. The threaded needle is then withdrawn through hole 10.

The novel threader herein, as noted above, is desirably made of a suitable plastic, and is comprised essentially of four parts, 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b, which may be molded, or otherwise formed, in any conventional plastic molding apparatus. It will be seen that the upper jaw member 1 is composed of abutted, mating members 1a, and 1b, fixedly oined by any suitable plastic cement, and the lower aw member 2 is similarly composed of mating members 2a, 2b, likewise joined by plastic cement. Member 1b is provided with a rearwardly disposed, depending apertured lug 17 which is normally fulcrumed about pivot 3, which in turn is fixedly secured in aligned apertures 3a in the mating sections 2a, 2b of bottom jaw member}. The justification or proper registry of the cooperating parts of the jaw members is effected in the following manner: Upper jaw segment 1a is provided with elongated rectangular raised sections 29, 30, 31, as shown in Fig. 4, which are severally adapted to fit in and be seated in conformed sockets 29a, 30a, and 31a, of cooperating segments 1b, shown in Fig. 6. Mating recesses 32a, 32b, in members 1a and 1b, form a socket in which cap 32 of compression spring 4 is received, while corresponding recesses 33a, 33b, in members 2a and 2b, form a socket receiving the lower cap 33 of the spring. Parts 1a and 1 b, as noted, are fitted in mating engagement and fixedly oined with suitable cement, or by means of rivets and other mechanical securing devices. Segment 2a of lower aw member 2 is provided with raised shouldered elements, designated generally by the numeral 34, which elements are adapted to seat in conformed recesses 1n segment 2b, and designated generally by the numeral 35. Mating recesses 21a and 21b, in the lower aw segments, con ointly form a socket for the reception of anchor loop 21 of member 19, or fork 24 of member 22, and the threader hook members are locked in position by pin 25, secured in aligned apertures 25a, 25b, as shown. The forward end of segment 2b is specially provided with a unilateral recess 36 having a transverse shoulder 37 adapted to serve as a detent for bottom latch hook 7a of guide 7.

The improved needle safe which is incorporated in the novel needle threader herein is formed as an integral part of lower jaw 2 in the following manner. The lower portions of the segments 2a and 2b are severally provided with grooved recesses 40, 41, conjointly forming the needle receptacle 5, previously described. Vertically spaced, horizontal aligning bars 42, 43, are provided at the top and bottom of groove 40, and are severally adapted to fit in and register with shouldered recesses 44, 45, respectively formed in the top and bottom edges of groove 41. A screw thread 46 in the mouth of the needle receptacle receives threaded cap 6, previously described.

In assembling the device herein, the segments 1a, and 1b, of upper jaw 1, are interfitted and cemented together When the cement has set, latching guide 7 is fitted into socket 36, while spring 4, previously fitted in socket 32a32b in upper jaw 1, has its lower end 33 fitted in recess 33b of segment 2b of lower jaw 2' Hook member 19 is seated in recess 21b with the hook 20 extending into recess 18 in the upper jaw. Segment 2a is then apposed to its mating segment 2b, the pins 3 and 25 driven home and secured, and cement or plastic solvent appl ed to the mating edges of segments 2a and 2b, if the inner faces of these elements had not already been coated with cement or solvent. When the cement has set, the aws of the novel needle threader will be unitary in construction, and operate as solid members, while preserving the lightness and rigidity of hollow structures generally. The novel device is substantially fool-proof, and the threading elements are protected from tampering at all times. The fabrication costs are minimal, and the operative life should be substantially unlimited. Additionally, owing to the provision of an improved needle safe incoiporated in the lower jaw member of the needle threader, the latter is made wholly self-contained, and its utility is greatly enhanced.

There has been described and illustrated a device capable of performing all of the specifically mentioned obects of this invention, as well as others which are apparent to those skilled in the art. Various uses of the present invention may be made employing the described structure. Accordingly, it is apparent that variations as to operation, size, and shape, and rearrangement of elements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A needle threader of the character described, comprising a pair of articulated jaw members hingedly connected at one end; a combination guide member and hook secured to the free end of one of the jaw members and having its hook movably engaged in and held by a cooperating recess in the other jaw member, the recessed portion of said other jaw being conformed to the width of the guide and to the width of the hook member, whereby the articulation of the jaw members is restrained; spring biasing means seated in and between the said jaw members and biasing them to normally open, restrained position; a rearwardly extending, needle-receiving hole in the front end of one of the jaws; a transverse threadreceiving slot, including a front wall and a rear wall, in the said jaw and in communication with said needlereceiving hole; a threading hook-receiving recess in said jaw and conjointly communicating with both said slot and said needle-receiving hole, said slot, hole, and recess being generally at right angles to each other, whereby when the eye of a needle positioned in its hole is moved into said slot it will be in alignment with said recess; a threading hook having one end fixed in the other said jaw, and having its hooked end extending into and normally sheathed in said recess, and below said slot, said hook piercing the eye of a needle when the jaws are apposed, and engaging and drawing a transversely disposed thread from said slot through said needle eye, when the jaws are spring-biased to their normal open position and the hook is retracted into said recess; the rear wall of said slot having a cut-out portion formed therein to permit conjoint viewing of the apposed needle eye, thread, and thread-engaging hook when the jaws are apposed.

2. A needle threader of the character described, comprising upper and lower articulated jaw members hingedly connected at one end; a depending guide lug and hook member secured to the free end of the upper jaw member and having its hook movably engaged in and held by a cooperating recess in the lower jaw member, the recessed portion of the lower jaw being conformed to the width of the guide and to the width of the hook member, whereby the articulation of the jaw members is restrained; spring-biasing means seated in the said jaw members and biasing the said members to normally open position; a needle-receiving hole in the front end of the upper jaw; a transverse thread-receiving slot in the top face of the upper jaw member, and in communication with said needle-receiving hole; a threading hook-receiving recess in the upper jaw member subjoined to the said transverse slot and in the vertical plane passing through the needle-receiving hole, whereby when the eye of a needle is passed through the needle-receiving hole into the thread-receiving slot, the eye will be vertically aligned with said threading hook-receiving recess; a threading hook secured in the bottom jaw member and having its hooked upper end extending into the threading hookreceiving recess and normally below the bottom of said transverse thread-receiving slot, said threading hook piercing the eye of a needle when the jaws are apposed, and engaging and drawing a thread transversely disposed in said slot, through said eye when the jaws are biased to normal open position.

3. In a needle threader of the character described, including a pair of articulated jaw members hingedly connected at one end, and normally biased to open jaw position, a guide lug and hook member secured to the free end of one of the jaw members, the other jaw member having a cooperating recess therein adapted to receive the guide lug and the hook member, said recess being conformed to the width of the guide lug and to the width of the hook member, said hook member being movably engaged in and held by the cooperating recess, whereby articulation of the jaw members is restrained, the lower jaw mounting a threading hook and the upper jaw having a transverse thread-receiving slot, including a front Wall and a rear wall, with a threading hook-receiving recess in communication with the slot, the rear wall of said slot having a vertical cut-out portion formed therein,

whereby when the jaws are apposed and the threading hook is passed through the recess into the slot, the said hook is viewable from the top of the upper jaw member.

4. In a needle threader of the character described, including upper and lower jaw members hingedly connected at one end and normally biased to open jaw position, a depending guide lug and hook member secured to the free end of the upper jaw, the lower jaw having a cooperating recess therein adapted to receive the guide lug and the hook member, said recess being conformed to the width of the guide lug and to the width of the hook, said hook member being movably engaged in and held by the cooperating recess, whereby articulation of the jaw members is restrained, the lower jaw mounting a threading hook and the upper jaw having a transverse thread-receiving slot, including a front wall and a rear wall, with a threading hook-receiving recess in communication with the slot, the rear wall of said slot having a vertical cut-out portion formed therein, whereby when the jaws are apposed and the threading hook is passed through the recess into the slot, the said hook is viewable from the top of the upper jaw member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 175,219 Wells Mar. 21, 1876 2,281,180 Christ Apr. 28, 1942 2,609,131 David Sept. 2, 1952 

